DURATION
9 nights
LOCATION
Guatemala
ANNUAL LEAVE
7 days off work
SEASON
All year round
GROUP SIZE
Up to 14 people
MEETING POINT
La Aurora Airport, Guatemala City
ACCOMMODATION
Classic
Hotel · Campsite
DIFFICULTY
Challenging
You'll need a good level of fitness to scale 5 peaks in 8 days, but no previous mountaineering experience or technical skills are required
Take in the views as you stand on top of Tajumulco volcano (4220m): the highest point of Central America
Hike to an epic summit overlooking the continuously erupting Volcan de Fuego and watch the sunrise from Acatenango volcano with views all the way to Mexico
Toast your volcano summiting exploits with sundowners and celebrations beside the dreamy azure waters of Lake Atitlán
Day 1
Explore Antigua
You'll be met at the airport and in Guatemala City for your 1 hour transfer to Antigua: the base for the first of volcano climb. After settling into your hotel, you'll have free time to wander Antigua's cobbled streets and browse the myriad street stalls.
Day 2
Hike Pacaya Volcano (2288m)
Hiking
3-4hrs · 6km · 400m up · 400m down
In the morning you'll get straight to the task at hand: climbing volcanoes. You'll meet the group and drive to the trailhead of Pacaya volcano, lace up your hiking boots and head for the summit. The route to the top weaves through lava fields, formed by eruptions as recent as 2010. Geothermal hotspots can be found on the cooled lava formations; you can even roast marshmallows here to fuel your hike. When you reach Pacaya's peak - your first of five volcano summits - you'll enjoy a picnic overlooking neighbouring volcanoes Agua, Fuego and Acatenango. You'll head back to Antigua for the evening: grab a beer and some classic Central American food from Antigua's many street stalls, bars, restaurants and cafes.
Day 3
Acatenango Volcano Hike and Overnight Camp (3750m)
Hiking
5-6hrs · 8km · 1100m up
You'll grab a big breakfast in Antigua before heading to the trailhead at La Soledad. Today's volcano hike is up the imposing Acatenango. The hike starts off through farmland and small villages, before ascending into a cloud forest. This is an area of high biodiversity, home to the famous Quetzal bird. You'll soon be greeted with sweeping views of the highlands and neighbouring volcanoes: a good time for a scenic refuel as you picnic on the volcano slopes.
After hiking through temperate forest, you'll reach the private camp spot at 3750m above sea level, cut into the slopes just below the tree line. Enjoy a fresh camp dinner and a night around the campfire. You are likely to have views of Fuego volcano belching fumes into the sky, just 4km away. It is an active volcano, with its last major eruption in 2018.
Day 4
Sunrise on Acatenango Volcano (3976m) and descend to Quetzaltenango
Hiking
2-3 hours · 7km · 475m up · 1575m down
You'll rise early to complete the hour-long hike to the summit of Acatenango, along a sand and scree covered trail. Reaching the cold and windswept summit, you'll be rewarded with 360-degree views of the entire Guatemalan highlands, all the way to the border of Mexico. You'll descend via a different route, moving through several different micro-climates as you lose altitude. Back at the trailhead, you'll jump in the van and head towards Guatemala's second largest city, Quetzaltenango - also known by its Mayan name, Xela. Check into your hotel and enjoy a free evening in this lively city.
Day 5
Chicabal Volcano (2858m) and Hot Springs
Hiking
3-4hrs · 9km · 540m up · 540m down
Next up is your third volcano peak: Chicabal. There is a 1 hour drive to reach Laguna Seca where the hike starts. Today's summit is an easier hike taking you up to a sacred site in the Guatemalan highlands to a mystical lagoon that sits within the crater of Chicabal Volcano. The site represents the centre of the cosmos for the Mam Maya, and traditional ceremonies sometimes take place at the lake. After descending from the volcano there is a short journey to Fuentes Georginas to enjoy a bathe in the natural hot springs before returning to Xela for the evening.
Day 6
Hike Tuichan Volcano - Central America's Highest Point (4219m)
Hiking
5-6hrs · 8km · 1100 up
Another early start for a 3 hour drive to Tuichan, close to the border with Mexico. Tuichan is the base for your climb up Tajumulco, Guatemala's highest volcano and the highest point in all of Central America. The hiking today is fairly easy going, but it's a long day with around 7 or 8 hours of hiking. There are beautiful forest trails and pine studded ridges on the way to your camp spot for the night. You'll put your head down to sleep at roughly 4000m above sea level - but not just yet. From the camp, the volcano summit is a steep climb for 30 minutes more, topping out at 4219m. You're officially on the top of Central America! Another awesome night of wild volcano camping awaits on the short descent back to camp.
Day 7
Descend Tajumulco and drive to Lake Atitlan
Hiking
2-3 hours · 5km · 20m up · 1120m down
Wake up on the volcano and make your descent down Tajumulco. You have a long drive to recover on, with a lunch stop en route, through the Guatemalan highlands to spectacular Lake Atitlan. You'll take a boat across the lake from Panajachel to your lakeside eco-hotel in the small town of San Pedro. The rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy this special place. Head in to town or just lie in a hammock and bask in the views of water and fire - lake and volcanoes all around you.
Day 8
Hike up San Pedro Volcano (3020m)
Hiking
7-8hrs · 9km · 1200m up · 1200m down
You may have been relaxing, but this adventure isn't over yet! Today is your fifth and final volcano summit: San Pedro volcano. After breakfast beside the lake, you'll take a boat across to the trail head. Experience your final epic hike through cloud forest, with sweeping highland vistas and spectacular views back down towards Lake Atitlan. At over 3000m, San Pedro volcano is no baby, but a fitting place to end your volcano hiking adventure.
Day 9
Unwind at Lake Atitlan
Congratulations: you've summited five volcanoes in a week! You've certainly earned a rest day, so the lake and eco-hotel is yours to soak up as you wish. There are kayaks available for use, or you can head to one of the best swimming spots at the lake. If you have some energy left, you can opt to head out ziplining or take a trip to nearby Mayan villages. Late in the afternoon you'll head back to Antigua for a final evening celebrating with your week of volcano summits with your group.
Day 10
Head back to the airport
Enjoy breakfast in Antigua and any spare time you may have before your host takes you back to the airport in Guatemala City for your departure flight.
Included
Guides
Expert, English-speaking local guides
Accommodation
7 nights in local hotels. 2 nights camping on volcanoes.
Transfers
To and from the airport, and everything in between
Meals
8 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 2 dinners of tasty Central American food
Equipment
All of the camping equipment for sleeping on the Acatenango and Tajumulco volcanoes is provided
Permits
All permits and entry fees
Not Included
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Some meals as described
Tips for your guides
Flights to and from the meeting point
Visas where required
Day 1
Hotel · Twin share
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2
Hotel · Twin share
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 3
Campsite · Twin tent
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 4 – Day 5
Hotel · Twin share
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 6
Campsite · Twin tent
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 7
Hotel · Twin share
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 8
Hotel · Twin share
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 9
Hotel · Twin share
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 10
Departure day
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Traditional Guatemalan food is based on Maya cuisine with Spanish influences. Classic meals usually include corn, beans, chillies, rice, pork, beef, chicken, cheese and tortillas as staple ingredients. Picnic lunches are provided on hiking days. Your host has deliberately not included the evening meals in Antigua, Xela and Atitlan in your trip. Guatemala is cheap and it's great fun to explore the food options in each place. Antigua in particular is a food lover's dream, the street food scene here is worth investing some time and Quetzals in. Camp dinners on Acatenango and Tajumulco are real highlights of the trip. Your guide will prep Guatemalan food on the slopes while you take in the views of the neighbouring, and often erupting, volcanic peaks.
Vegetarian, vegan and most other dietary requirements can be accommodated on this trip. Please let your host know on your passenger information form.
What is the accommodation like?
Antigua: Casa Antigua
In Antigua your base will be at Casa Antigua, set in a historical building with lush green courtyards and just a 2-minute walk away from Antigua's central park. Guests can also use the swimming pool and sauna at the hotel's sister property nearby for a small extra fee. You'll stay in twin-share rooms with en suite bathroom.
Quetzaltenango: Hotel Modelo
In Quetzaltenango you'll stay in Hotel Modelo: a charming, historic 3-star hotel run by four generations of the same family. You'll stay in twin-share rooms with an en suite bathroom.
Lake Atitlan: San Pedro la Laguna
At Lake Atitlan you'll stay at Hotel Sak'cari El Amanecer in San Pedro La Laguna. This is a hotel right on the waterfront, run on renewable energy and with an amazing pool with views of the lake and volcanoes. It's the perfect spot to wind down after all the volcano action. You'll stay in twin-share rooms with private bathroom.
Volcano Camping
You'll also camp on volcanoes Acatenango and Tajumulco. All of your camping gear is provided; tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag. Be advised that night time on the volcanoes can be quite cold, so do bring warm layers with you. There will be campfires to keep you toasty at dinner time, while stargazing and watching Fuego volcano do its thing.
Upgrades
All hotel rooms and tents on the trip are based on twin sharing. So for solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room and tent can be booked throughout the trip (subject to availability). See Optional Extras for prices.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
La Aurora International Airport, Guatemala City (GUA)
Arrive any time on Day 1
Ends
La Aurora International Airport, Guatemala City (GUA)
Depart any time on Day 10
Transfers
Transfers between La Aurora International Airport (GUA) and your hotel in Antigua are provided for any flight arriving on Day 1, and departing on Day 10 of the trip. If you wish to arrive earlier or stay on later, your host can arrange private transfers for an additional cost. See Optional Extras for details.
Travel options
There are direct flights to La Aurora International Airport, Guatemala City from many destinations in the US, and via Madrid from Europe.
Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.
What's included?
- All of the camping equipment for sleeping on the Acatenango and Tajumulco volcanoes is provided
What do I need to bring?
Bags
- Soft overnight duffel bag or rucksack
- Daypack
- Waterproof liner for rucksack or drybags
Clothes
- Down jacket
- Waterproof jacket
- Waterproof trousers
- Breathable wicking layers
- Fleece jacket or similar
- Thermals (merino is best)
- Warm hat
- Buff or neckscarf
- Lightweight trousers/shorts/skirts
- T-shirts
- Underwear & socks
- Swimwear
- Sunglasses
- Sunhat
- Something to sleep in
- Hiking boots (worn-in)
- Sandals
Other
- Padlock for left luggage
- Universal travel plug adapter
- Power bank or solar charger
- Spare camera batteries
- Passports (and visas)
- Travel Insurance documents
- Ear plugs
- Insect repellant
- Suncream
- Personal first-aid kit (inc. blister treatment)
- Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
- Toilet kit (toilet paper, biodegradable bags to carry out)
- Quick-dry towel
- Alcohol hand-gel
- Headtorch or torch
- Reusable water bottle x 1 ltr
- Biodegradable wet-wipes
- Energy bars and snacks
- Water purification tablets/treatment system
Double/Twin room in Antigua
Payable Before Departure
Double/Twin room in Antigua
… Per Night
Single room in Antigua
Payable Before Departure
Single room in Antigua
… Per Night
Private Solo Room & Tent Upgrade
Payable Before Departure
Private Solo Room & Tent Upgrade
…
Private transfer between Guatemala City and Antigua (each way, per vehicle for 1-3 people)
Payable Before Departure
Private transfer between Guatemala City and Antigua (each way, per vehicle for 1-3 people)
…
Amazing and challenging trip!
Great trip overall
Awesome experience! Highly recommend
An amazing trip with some spectacular climbs and camping. Diego and his team were phenomenal guides, and super flexible as required. It was humbling seeing how hard they worked to accommodate us.
You can also see that this type of trip attracts a certain type of person - positive, determined and willing to get out of their comfort zone.
The hikes were just challenging enough. It's accessible for the average person who's hiked before / does exercise regularly, but we all still felt it in our legs!
Be ready to wild camp, get covered in volcano dust when hiking, and get to experience the magic of erupting volcanoes and watching the sunrise / sunset over the clouds at 4,200m.
The saying goes that life is about the journey and not the destination. But truly, it’s about sharing the journey and the guides and other travelers were who made this trip such a memorable experience. It’s amazing how strangers can so quickly grow to care about each other, share belly laughs, and feel completely comfortable belting out songs on a bus together. I feel so fortunate to have shared this experience with such an amazing group of people.
The hikes were challenging, but this well-fed woman in her mid-50s managed just fine!
The natural beauty was otherworldly and I highly recommend treating yourself to this experience.
Highly recommend this trip! Unforgettable experience sleeping at Acatenango base camp overseeing Fuego's near constant eruptions. As someone who experienced altitude sickness, Pepian and his team were the best at helping me with techniques to overcome the sickness - I never felt like I missed out on anything I wanted to experience. The camping was made a great experience by the team and the local porters! As someone who can sleep anywhere anytime, I had no issues camping, but many others had issues with comfort and sleeping. The country is beautiful, and the guides made sure that the group was safe and taken care of through the trip.
This was my first "active" travel, and I had a fantastic experience. Pepian and team were amazing guides, and they made everyone feel like they genuinely cared about our experience. The hikes were of reasonable difficulty but still challenging even for some very fit members of the group.
The camping nights were cold and not the most comfortable, but seeing Fuego erupting was worth it and overall it was just all part of the experience! The group of 11 was just about the right size to get to know everyone. Overall I would highly recommend this trip.
Fabulous trip, really stunning country and great local guides. Feels like a real adventure and challenge yet we also felt looked after. Loved watching a volcano erupting!
Overall the trip was a fantastic experience and the erupting volcano fuego was something I’ll never forget. I would recommend highly. Best: the guide Pepien and his team Alejandro and Diana along with Gustavo the driver were brilliant, conscientious and always on hand to offer advice and information. They made sure all team members were catered for often showing flexibility to make sure everyone had a great time. The cooking was brilliant especially the camping nights with Alejandro and the recommendations to local restaurants along the way when appropriate. Accommodation was good and camping a real experience!! Not so good: booking experience wasn’t great and would recommend checking any itinerary changes before booking by asking specifically. We didn’t ask and we were not told even though the local team and MBA knew about some potential changes as we booked. Worth asking if as you book especially nearer the time. We didn’t climb one of the volcanoes on the itinerary (for safety reasons which is obviously good). Would have been great to do so and will definitely go back and climb this one. The alternative on the day was ok but wasn’t the same as the other 4 volcano experiences. However we did get to some hot springs which was great fun! Also, the accommodation on the last few days in lake Atitlan (Eco lodge Uxztabl) was not of the standard of the other accommodations. Location/view was great but the trip would be better if similar accommodation to others on trip could be found (if possible). Better if/top tips: There is a lot of driving between volcanoes, can’t be helped but be aware timings are without traffic which can mean longer journey times (significantly in some cases). The itinerary might benefit from a day off in between the volcanoes (lake atitlan would be a nice place to have a day) or maybe one long bus trip at the end rather than loads of shorter (but still 3-5 hr journeys). This might have allowed more time to enjoy the culture and local people. Top tip-Take a lightweight portable / inflatable sleeping mat for camping (although the local team carry these up it’s worth investing in a thicker one for comfort). Overall this was a fantastic experience made better by a cool group and the excellent Pepien and the team.
MBA Response:
Thank you so much for your review Thomas - It's great to see you had a fantastic time in Guatemala and rated your experience 5/5.
Re: Itinerary Changes:
Thanks also for your better if/top tip suggestions, we'll certainly explore those with our local hosts in Guatemala. We also appreciate your honest feedback on our communication about potential itinerary changes due to volcanic activity. We have taken this onboard and we will be reviewing how we highlight & communicate the potential for disruption across our full adventure collection to ensure our future adventurers have a Much Better booking experience when joining our adventures.
-The MBA Customer Experience Team
This was the sixth MBA trip I’ve been on and definitely the best. The hiking was tough but we were forewarned and the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction was all the greater for it. The trip was well paced. The guides were brilliant and our chef deserves a special mention, not just for his catering but also for his singing. A wonderful trip.
We've crunched the numbers to work out the total carbon footprint of this trip, and plant enough trees to suck 2x as much back out the atmosphere.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 221kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal for 2023 to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
- A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. For every person booked with us since 2016 we’re planting enough trees to suck at least 2x more carbon out the atmosphere than is emitted by their trips. All native trees, as part of amazing projects that are re-foresting degraded land, tackling the biodiversity crisis and supporting local communities at the same time. We go further than that too, also funding re-wilding projects worldwide to help protect important keystone species from extinction. See the reforestation and re-wilding schemes we support. See our carbon action plan.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
You'll need a good level of fitness for this trip. You'll be scaling 5 volcanoes in 10 days and some of the ascents are steep. However you won't need any technical ability or mountain climbing experience. You'll just be happy hiking for several hours a day and being active for several days in a row.
Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Dry season runs from November to March, with the fringe months of October and April also being good times to visit. The Guatemalan highlands have a great climate for hiking, with lows of 10°C and highs of 27°C generally.
Be aware that the nights camping on Acatenango and Tajumulco volcanoes will be cold as you are sleeping at around 4000m above sea level. Make sure to pack enough warm layers for this part. Thermals, fleeces or light down jackets will be fine.
Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion. Your guide will help with advice however, we suggest the amount below as a guideline per person:
Guide: 3-5 US dollars a day
Of course, you are free to tip more or less and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality - a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Tap water in Guatemala is not safe to drink, so you'll need to stick to bottled or filtered water. Each hotel you'll stay in will have filtered water where you can fill up your bottles before each hike. Your host is passionate about reducing single-use plastic waste in Guatemala, so they won't provide plastic bottles of drinking water at any stage.
Yes, for the two overnight volcano camps everyone in the group pitches in and helps carry the camping gear: sleeping bags, pads and parts of the tent you will be using. This is all part of the experience of hiking to the top of a volcano and pitching up for a night sleeping out on the summit.
Additional porters for the overnight camp sections are available to hire locally at an extra cost: $25USD each way. Your host in Guatemala has worked alongside local communities around the volcanoes to help set up a guide association to ensure fair pay for porters and guides, and high safety standards for all visitors to the volcanoes.
Yes you can leave your excess luggage in Antigua if you need to. Be aware that you won't be returning to Antigua until the end of the trip, so you'll need to take everything with you for the volcano climbs.
We recommend checking out the country specific information here and also talking to a travel nurse.
For current advice about travelling in Guatemala, have a read of the UK Foreign Office pages here.
Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.
Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our adventures. Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure.
Your insurance policy should also include specific Covid-19 cover, including cancellation and curtailment cover if you, your travel companion or a close relative are diagnosed with Covid-19.
We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.
You're in good company. Our adventures are typically made up of a mix of solo travellers and small groups of two or three friends who simply love adventure, pushing themselves and meeting awesome like-minded people. See here for more info about our lovely bunch of Much Better Adventurers.
Want to book a private trip? Just tap ‘Private Group’ in the dates and prices tab.
Your trip is led by carefully curated local hosts and expert guides. See here for more info about the guides we work with.
Pay In Installments
You can choose to pay for this trip in as many installments as you like, with no interest or fees.
Full Financial Protection
Your money is safe. Every booking is fully financially protected.
